Ceiling hanger



Aug. 16, 1966 s. FURER 3,266,202

CEILING HANGER Filed 001:. 5, 1961 FIG. I.

INVENTOR ///EY FUR'ER \I BY A TORNEY.

United States Patent 3,266,202 CEILING HANGER Stanley Furer, Great Neck, N.Y., assignor to F & S Wrought Iron Manufacturing Corporation, Brooklyn,

' Filed Oct. 3, 1961, Ser.No. 142,637

6 Claims. (Cl. 52-39) This invention relates to means for suspending pipes and other objects from ceilings.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel means of this class, herein the means comprising a combination of downwardly-opening channel forming part of a ceiling-the opening of the channel being narrower than the interior thereofand of a hanger, preferably of sheet metal of high tensile strength and of thickness less than the width of the opening of the channel, having a specially shaped top portion, or actually the equivalent of a key, which may be inserted through the opening into the channel, rotated until its plane is substantially transverse with respect to the channel, then lowered until such top portion engages the sides of the channel, and is thereby locked in suspended positionthe hanger having a stamped-out tongue attached only at its top end to the hanger, the tongue being of width less than that of the opening of the channel and adapted to be bent so that its free end enters the channel to prevent rotation of the hanger away from locked position. The lower portion of the hanger may, within the spirit of the invention, be variously shaped to accord with its particular function.

Special features of the invention include a channel which may be; for example, part of the form of a poured concrete ceiling (which, of course, may be the floor of a nexthigher story) or which may be an independent beam imbedded in or otherwise part of the ceiling; a hanger suitable for holding up a horizontally disposed pipe-line, for example, or a vertically disposed element, or an element having a vertically disposed part; and a relatively inexpensive design of hanger, without respect, necessarily, to the type of load it is intended to carry.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description, and from the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURES 15 show a [first modification of the invention; FIGURES 6 and 7 a second; and FIGURE 8 a third. 1 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hanger, only, of the first modification.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view of the ceiling channel, which is an element of the invention in this modification, and which may be a part of the form of a poured concerete ceiling, an adjacent part of which appears; and a side view of the above mentioned hanger with the top portion thereof inserted into the channel preparatory to rotation as indicated by the arrow.

FIGURE 3 is also a transverse sectional view of the channel, showing part of the ceiling; and a face view of the hanger rotated ninety degrees with respect to FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is another transverse sectional view of the channel, showing part of the ceiling; and a face view of the hanger after the same has settled into locked position with respect to the channel.

FIGURE 5 is the section 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the hanger, only, of the second modification.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view of the ceiling channel, an element of the invention, shown as a beam sunken into the ceiling, an adjacent part of which appears as shading; and a face view of the cooperating hanger of this modification in locked position with respect to the channel.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the hanger, only, of the third modification, which is different from the first modification merely in that the hangers of FIGURES 1 and 8 are not alike.

With reference to the first modification of the invention shown in the drawing, the hanger 10 appears by itself in perspective in FIGURE 1. The hanger is preferably stamped and formed in one operation from a sheet of suitable material having considerable tensile strength, such as steel. The top portion 1t1 of the hanger-shaped here like a truncated triangle the sides of which are equalis adapted to enter and to lock within the cooperating ceiling channel presently to be described. The lower portion 12 of the hanger includes a tongue 13 which is partially stamped out of the material of the hangerthe top end only of the tongue being attached to the hanger-and may be simultaneously given a preliminary bend so that the planes of the hanger proper and of the tongue are disposed at about ninety degrees to each other, as shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3. The slot remaining in the lower por tion 12 of the hanger after the stamping out and bending of the tongue :13 is designated 14.

The ceiling channel 15 of this modification is shown in the drawing as part of the form of a poured concrete ceiling, but the channel may be a beam imbedded in the ceiling (see below). The concrete adjacent the channel is indexed 16. The channel proper, in transverse section, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, is seen to be in the shape of a truncated triangle the sides of which are equal, and which is geometrically similar to and of slightly greater height than the periphery of the top portion 11 of the hanger 10. The side walls 17, 17 of channel 15 are closer together at the opening of the channel than thereabove (see FIGURES 2, 3 and 4), and are farthest apart as they merge into the (horizontal) connecting portion 18 of the channel.

The top edge of the top portion 11 of the hanger 10 is designated 19, and the like side edges 20, 20L

When the top portion 11 of the hanger 10 is inserted into channel 15 through its opening (as in FIGURE 2), rotated so as to bring the plane of the hanger substantially transverse with respect to channel 15 (as in FIGURE 3), and lowered (as in FIGURES 4 and 5), the sides 20, 20 of the top portion 11 engage side wall 17, 17 of channel 15 and the hanger is therefore locked within the channel. To prevent the hanger from being rotated into unlocked position, tongue 13 is bent upward until its free end portion enters the opening of channel 15, see FIGURES 4 and 5.

Preferably both hanger 10 and channel 15 are made of steel.

The lower portion 12 of the hanger 1t], slotted at 14, is ideal for forming part of the suspensor of a pipe or other object which must be rigidly held.

Referring now to the second modification of the invention shown in the drawing, the hanger 21 appears by itself in perspective in FIG. 6. Like hanger 10, modified hanger 21 is preferably stamped and formed in one operation from a sheet of material having considerable tensile strength, such as steel. The top portion 22 of hanger 21 is provided with two lateral hooks 23, 23, formed as a result of two cuts 24, 24-the hooks and cuts being respectively alike but mirror-images of each other-and are adapted to enter and to lock within the cooperating ceiling channel presently to be described. The lower portion 25 of the hanger 21 includes a tongue 26, functionally similar to tongue 13, which is partially stamped out of the material of the hangerthe top end only of tongue 26 being attached to the hanger 21-and may be simultaneously given a preliminary bend so that the plane of the hanger 21 and that of the tongue 26 are disposed at about ninety degrees to each other, as shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7. The slot remaining in the lower portion 25 of the hanger 21 after the stamping out and bending of the tongue 26 is designated 27.

The ceiling channel 28 of the second modification is a beam imbedded in and forming part of the ceiling, which is indicated as shading adjacent the top portion 29 and the sides 30, 30 of the channel 28. The channel 28, shown in transverse section in FIGURE 7, is a symmetrical structure, in which the sides 30, 30 are mirror images of each other but otherwise alike. Each side 30, at the lower portion or opening of the channel, which opening is at the lower part thereof, is provided with an inwardly and upwardly directed angle 31, and each angle, together with the lower part of its associated side 30, forms an upwardly-opening sub-channel 32.

When the top portion 22 of the hanger 21 is inserted into channel 28 through its opening and rotated so that the plane of the hanger is substantially transverse with respect to the channel 28, and lowered, the lateral hooks 23, 23 are received in and supported by the sub-channels 32, as shown in FIGURE 7. The function of tongue 26 is equivalent to that of tongue 13 (see above).

Preferably, hanger 2i and channel 28 are both made of steel.

The third modification of the invention illustrated in the drawing in FIGURE 8 is actually only a modification of the hanger of the first modification described above. The channel in the first and third modifications of the invention is common.

The modified hanger 33 of FIGURE 8 is primarily designed for the suspension from a ceiling of a vertically disposed round rod or pipe; but it will be obvious that while the hanger 33 is suitable for that use it is also suitable for the suspension of any of a variety of objects having as part thereof a terminal in the shape of a vertically disposed rod or pipe.

Hanger 33 is also preferably stamped and formed from a sheet of material of high tensile strength, like hangers 10 and 28. The top portion 34 of hanger 33 is exactly like portion 11 of hanger 10, and is adapted to cooperate with channel 15. The lower portion 35 of hanger 33 is not only longer than the lower portion 12 of hanger 10 but is otherwise different. A tongue 36, comparable to tongue 13, is partially stamped out of the material of portion 35 with only the top end of tongue 36 attached to hanger 33, and may be simultaneously given a preliminary bend so that the plane of hanger 33 and that of tongue 36 are disposed at about ninety degrees to each other, as shown in FIGURE 8, in which the free end portion of tongue 36 is broken away to reduce the figure. The slot remaining in portion 35 after the stamping out and bending of tongue 36 is designated 37.

That part of portion 35 of hanger 33 beneath the slot 37 is specially formed in the stamping operation that produces this hanger with a series of alternating oppositely-disposed straps, each shaped like a short, longitudinally split cylinder, all co-axial, and each impressed or otherwise provided with internal threads of a theoretically continuous helix. These threads may be formed by the dies used in the production of the hanger, or the co-axial series of straps may be tapped after the stamping and forming operation. All straps curving in one direction are designated 38; the alternating straps, curving in the opposite direction 39; the internal threads, 4-0. The series of the alternating curved and internally threaded straps makes the portion 35 beneath the slot 37 operable as a nut; and a properly sized and threaded round element may be screwed into the series to become rigidly attached to hanger 33,

What is claimed is:

1. The combination which comprises, as one element thereof, a downwardly opening channel forming part of a ceiling, said channel having a horizontal web and downwardly extending side walls, the opening of the channel being narrower than the interior thereof; and, as another element thereof, a hanger [for pipes and other objects desired to be suspended from the ceiling, the hanger being of sheet material thinner than the width of the opening of the channel, said hanger including a top portion having shoulders at the opposite edges thereof, said shoulders being in seated engagement with the channel walls, said hanger also including a stamped out tongue portion projecting upwardly and outwardly therefrom, the width of the tongue :being less than the width of the opening of the channel, and said tongue extending into said channel to prevent rotation of the hanger into unlocked posi-. tion.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the channel, in transverse cross-section, is shaped like a truncated symmetrical triangle with the \base at the top, and wherein the top portion of the hanger, in face view, is shaped like a geometrically similar and somewhat smaller truncated symmetrical triangle .with the base at the top.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the channel, in transverse cross-section, is shaped like a truncated syrnmetrical triangle with the base at the top, and is formed as a part of a poured concrete ceiling, and wherein the top portion of the hanger, in face View, is shaped like a geometrically similar and somewhat smaller symmetrical triangle with the base at the top.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the channel is a beam and the lower portions of the side walls thereof are inwardly and upwardly disposed forming angles which are separated from each other by the opening of the channel, said angles forming with their respective sides smaller and upwardly dis osed channels on either side of the opening of the first-named channel, and wherein the shoulders on the top portion of the hanger, in face view, are formed with two opposing lateral hooks received within the above mentioned smaller and upwardly disposed channels as well as within the first-named channel.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower part of the hanger beneath the tongue comprises a co-axial series of alternating oppositely disposed horizontal straps each being substantially half of an axially split short cylinder with (female threads on the concave surfaces of the straps, the threads being parts of a theoretically continuous helix.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower part of the hanger is adapated to receive and hold a round, male-threaded, vertically disposed element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,416 10/ 1918 Pratt 50477 1,548,214 8/ 1925 Schaefer et a1 50-477 1,878,055 9/1932 Witliif -32 1,934,760 11/1963 Awbrey 50-477 1,988,124 1/1935 Johnson 50-477 2,345,650 4/1944 AttWood 5O-477 2,780,936 2/ 1957 Hillrberg 50-477 2,909,054 10/1959 Phillips 504'77 FOREIGN PATENTS 810,545 8/ 1951 Germany. 324,451 1/ 1930 Great Britain.

HENRY C. SUTI-IERLAND', Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACK-ENOFF,

Examiners. 

1. THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES, AS ONE ELEMENT THEREOF, A DOWNWARDLY OPENING CHANNEL FORMING PART OF A CEILING, SAID CHANNEL HAVING A HORIZONTAL WEB AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS, THE OPENING OF THE CHANNEL BEING NARROWER THAN THE INTERIOR THEREOF; AND AS ANOTHER ELEMENT THEREOF, A HANGER FOR PIPES AND OTHER OBJECTS DESIRED TO BE SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING, THE HANGER BEING OF SHEET MATERIAL THINNER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE OPENING OF THE CHANNEL, SAID HANGER INCLUDING A TOP PORTION HAVING SHOULDERS AT THE OPPOSITE EDGES THEREOF, SAID SHOULDERS BEING IN SEATED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CHANNEL WALLS, SAID HANGER ALSO INCLUDING A STAMPED OUT TONGUE PORTION PROJECTING INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, THE WIDTH OF THE TONGHE BEING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE OPENING OF THE CHANNEL, AND SAID TONGUE EXTENDING INTO SAID CHANNEL TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE HANGER INTO UNLOCKED POSITION. 